CLOSETS & Home Organization Conference & Expo 2010

Information & Regulations

Frequently Asked Questions

The following information has been compiled to assist all exhibitors in getting the most out of your exhibit experience at the CLOSETS & HOME ORGANIZATION CONFERENCE & EXPO™.

Who to Contact

This information has been prepared as a service to you, the exhibitor. We know that direct, early contact with exhibition management can be the key to your success as an exhibit manager. Never hesitate to ask the obvious question, or call to verify conflicting information. Keep in mind that each question answered in advance is one less problem to be solved on-site. Click here for a list of Conference & Exhibit Staff.

FAQs: Answers to 13 of the most frequently asked questions by Exhibitors.

1. What is included in my exhibit space rental?

The following booth equipment, services and facilities are included free of charge:

• Draperies suspended on aluminum uprights and stanchions. The drapery background is blue and white drape, 8 feet high. The side rails are blue drape, 33 inches high.
• Standard booth sign measuring 7 inches by 44 inches, black letters on white card, upon which is printed the company name and booth number.
• Speckled hunter green booth carpeting.
• Credentials for your full-time exhibit personnel.
• Complimentary listing in the Final Program Exhibits Directory.
• General lighting.
• Removal, storage, and return of empty boxes, cartons, crates, and skids.
• Carpeting of all aisles in the exhibit hall.
• Twenty-four hour general hall security.

Please note that material handling (shipping/drayage) is not included with your booth. Tables, furniture, etc., can be obtained at an additional rental charge through the Official Service Contractors. If you have any questions regarding your participation in the CLOSETS & HOME ORGANIZATION CONFERENCE & EXPO™, please contact CLOSETS & HOME ORGANIZATION CONFERENCE & EXPO™ Exhibition Management at 866/731-6789, 630/434-7779, e-mail: closets@heiexpo.com.

What other items may I need to purchase?

*All rates at advance pricing amount. Rates may be more for additional services (ie: 24 hour power), and will be higher for show site orders, or orders placed after the advance pricing deadline date.

2. Are there any display rules I need to be aware of?

Yes. These display rules are outlined in detail in this online Exhibitor Manual and must be adhered to on-site, or your display may have to go through costly alterations before the Show opens. The display rules are not meant to limit your ability to showcase your product, but rather to ensure each exhibitor an equal opportunity, within reason, to present their product or service in the most effective manner to the audience. The exhibitor's responsibility can be summed up quite simply as "Be a Good Neighbor."

Note: All demonstration equipment including operator's position must be located at least two feet removed from the aisle line of the exhibit area. Exhibitor warrants and agrees that the Exhibitor is solely responsible for assuming that its exhibit, demonstration(s) and all related materials are accessible to persons with disabilities and complies with all applicable provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Your agreement to abide by these display rules is a part of the space contract, and they will be strictly enforced by our Floor Managers.

3. What do I need to know about Hanging Signs?

Peninsula, Island, and Cross-Aisle booth Configurations are the only booths that are permitted to display a hanging sign. Hanging identification signs and graphics will be permitted to a maximum height or corresponding booth configuration regulations, provided written approval is received from exposition management.

All sign requests must be submitted with floor plans or diagrams in writing to:

Please note that all exhibitors who obtain Exhibition Management approval to have a hanging sign from show management MUST check with the convention center and general contractor to adhere to all structural integrity rules and obtain approvals. For anything required to be hung from the convention center, please call Viper Tradeshow Services at 888/458-9760 to confirm availability of rigging points.

4. How do I get badges for my exhibit staff? How can I invite guests to my booth?

Click here to access the Exhibitor Registration. Pre-registered exhibiting personnel should bring their registration confirmation containing a barcode to pick up their badges at Exhibitor Registration located in the Long Beach Convention Center beginning at Noon, Tuesday, February 9, 2010. Badges will not be mailed in advance of the show.

5. Do I need to use union personnel to install my exhibit fixtures at the Long Beach Convention Center?

No. The Long Beach Convention Center is a non-union facility. Exhibitors may set-up and dismantle their exhibits themselves.

Viper Tradeshow Services will have qualified labor available for those exhibitors who need labor services. Exhibitors who want to use the services of a company other than the Official Service Contractor for the installation and dismantle of their display must submit the "Non-Official Contractor Notice" to Show Management by January 8, and ensure their Non-Official Contractor submits the proper General Liability Certificate of Insurance.

For questions on your specific labor needs, call 888/458-9760.

How can we minimize our labor expense?

By being as productive as possible. In order to minimize the expense of hired labor personnel, place your labor order in advance to ensure their availability when you are ready to begin your installation. Have good drawings or photos available of how your exhibit fixture should look, know when straight time (regular work hours) begins and ends to avoid overtime surcharges, and be there to direct and supervise for the entire installation process. You may find that hiring experienced laborers actually expedite your exhibit installation process, saving you time and money!

6. How should I ship my exhibit materials-in advance to the warehouse, or direct to the convention center?

Making the right transportation decisions for your exhibit materials will not only save you time and money, but also a lot of aggravation. Exhibit transportation can be fairly complex. Review each transportation option in terms of cost, time frame, and type of shipment, and choose the one that best fits your situation. When possible, ship in advance to the warehouse. Our drayage contractor will receive materials and provide up to 30 days storage before delivering them to the Long Beach Convention Center. Although the advance receiving rates are more than the direct shipping rates due to the additional handling, shipping your materials in advance is a good investment for the following reasons:

• You can verify receipt of your materials in Long Beach well in advance of the exhibition, without worrying about lost or misdirected shipments.
• You won't have to deal with stand-by charges from your motor freight carrier while your direct shipment waits in line to be unloaded at the Long Beach Convention Center.
• You can be assured that your materials will be in your booth space when you, or your set-up crew, arrive to begin the installation process.

Also note that we strongly suggest that exhibitors consolidate their shipments as much as possible. The material handling rates have a 200 lb. minimum. Plan ahead and put as much into one shipment as possible to save money.

If you choose to ship direct, be sure to forward a copy of you material handling order form/bill-of-lading to the drayage contractor to aid in tracing your shipment. Shipping addresses and timelines are included in the Viper Tradeshow Services Show-At-A-Glance form.

Note that due to storage limitations, direct shipments can be received at the Long Beach Convention Center only on Tuesday, February 9and Wednesday, February 10 between 8:00am and 5:00pm. If you send your shipment to the Long Beach Convention Center on a date other than February 9 or 10, it will be refused.

For small package shipments, there is a $45 fee for each small package shipment received at the Convention Center. This includes retrieving the small package and delivering it to you booth. Refer to the Viper Tradeshow Services information.

7. Can I deliver my exhibit materials to the Long Beach Convention Center myself?

Yes, there are no carry in charges or added move in expenses. If a fork lift is required, Viper Tradeshow Services will have this service available. Refer to the Viper Material Handling order form for specifications and rates. For questions, call Viper Tradeshow Services at 888/458-9760.

8. Is there security provided for MY booth?

From the first day of move-in through the last day of move-out, there is 24-hour perimeter badge-checkers for the exhibit floor. This level of security is intended to control the access of people and material to and from the exhibit halls in a safe and organized manner. It is not intended as individual security for your booth and materials. Please remember that the Long Beach Convention Center is a public building to which hundreds of individuals have access - let alone the number of individuals involved in the shipping of your materials to and from the exhibition, setting up and tearing down displays. Therefore, it is critical that exhibitors work closely with Exhibition Management in making every effort to safeguard their investment in the exhibition. Be security conscious at all times during your stay in Long Beach. Do not leave items of value in your booth overnight during the installation period or exhibition days without taking security precautions. Exhibitors can order overnight booth security from the security vendor. Remember that the security of your product is your responsibility—don't take chances!

9. Should I insure my exhibit materials?

Yes! Exhibitors are required to provide for their own floater insurance coverage, protecting against damage, loss or theft. Please remember that the drayage contractor cannot be held responsible for the disappearance of an exhibitor's materials after delivery to the booth, or before the materials are picked up for loading out after the exhibition.

Remember that it is the responsibility of the exhibitor to insure his property. Vance Publishing, their agents, Hall-Erickson, Inc., the Long Beach Convention Center and their respective agents will not be responsible in any way against theft, fire or accident.

10. If I have a problem during installation, the exhibition or dismantle, who do I see?

The first person you should seek out is the Exhibits Office. We are there to assist you by answering questions about display rules, help with labor questions, and in general are a good source of information. Another option is to visit with the customer service staff at the Viper Tradeshow Services Service Center. The staff there have many years of hands-on experience and have lots to offer in the way of assistance. Of course, the Show's exhibition staff will be ready and willing to assist you in any way possible. The Exhibits Office will be in operation from installation through dismantle.

11. When can I begin dismantling my booth? When must I be completed?

The exhibit hall will be open for exhibit dismantling from:

Note: Exhibitors are cautioned when making return travel arrangements to allow sufficient time following the closing of the show at 4:00pm. All booths must be dismantled and packed by 11:00pm, Friday, February 12. No exhibitor shall have the right prior to 4:00pm on Friday, February 12 to pack or remove any articles or exhibit.

All outbound carriers must check in no later than 10:00am Saturday, February 13, 2010. Freight not called for by 10:00am on Saturday, February 13 will be rerouted via Viper Tradeshow Services Exhibit Transportation.

Note: Security personnel will ask every person removing material from the exhibit hall to show the "Property Removal Pass." This pass is only available from your company's exhibit manager.

In Conclusion

We hope you have found this information helpful in preparing an exhibit program for the CLOSETS & HOME ORGANIZATION CONFERENCE & EXPO™. If there are important areas we did not cover, or specific questions you would like to see addressed in greater detail, let us know. Your input is vital in helping us to produce an event that is efficient, productive, and profitable. We also encourage you to take the time to read through the online Exhibitor Manual. Placing orders in advance can save you time and money.

Thank you for your participation and support.